After more than six hours of bitter debate, the Commons voted in favour of same-sex weddings by 400 votes to 175, a majority of 225.

The Prime Minister suffered the embarrassment of having to rely on Labour and Lib Dem MPs to secure victory, with a total of 136 Tories voting against the measure, more than the 126 who voted in favour.

But tonight he took to Twitter to defend the policy in the face of the biggest Tory rebellion in history.

Scroll down for video

MPs have tonight overwhelmingly voted in favour of the gay marriage Bill

The Commons voted in favour of same-sex weddings by 400 votes to 175, a majority of 225

David Cameron took to Twitter to defend the policy in the face of the biggest Tory rebellion in history

‘Strong views exist on both sides but I believe MPs voting for gay people being able to marry too, is a step forward for our country,’ the Prime Minister wrote.

Hours earlier the PM launched a last ditch attempt to persuade Tory MPs to back gay marriage, arguing it will 'make our society stronger'.

‘I am a strong believer in marriage. It helps people commit to each other and I think it is right that gay people should be able to get married too,' he said.

RELATED ARTICLES

Share this article

Share

But scores of Tories rejected the plea of their leader. The Labour Whips office suggested that 139 Tories had voted against the Bill, with 132 in favour. Dozens more did not vote including several government ministers.

Northern Ireland Secretary Owen Paterson voted against the legislation, thought to be the only senior minister to do so.

Defence Secretary Philip Hammond and
Attorney General Dominic Grieve were the two most senior figures to stay
away from tonight’s vote, after the vast majority of Cabinet figures
agreed to back the PM. Housing minister Mark Prisk also did not vote.

The result saw a record number of Tory MPs reject the leadership's policy

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg hailed the result as a 'landmark' for equality in Britain

Around 20 Labour MPs voted against the bill at second reading, along with Lib Dem MPs Gordon Birtwistle and Sarah Teather, a former education minister.

The result meant a record number of Tory MPs rejected the leadership's policy, far greater than the 95 Conservatives who voted against post-Dunblane gun reforms introduced by the Major government.

However, Downing Street sources stress that because Tories were given a free vote those who opposed Mr Cameron's pro-gay marriage stance were not technically rebelling.

After the result was announced, Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg hailed the result as a ‘landmark’ for equality in Britain.

David Cameron, who today met US Vice President Joe Biden in Downing Street, urged his Tory MPs to back the gay marriage reforms

He said: ‘Tonight’s vote shows Parliament is very strongly in favour of equal marriage. No matter who you are and who you love, we are all equal. Marriage is about love and commitment, and it should no longer be denied to people just because they are gay.’

Labour leader Ed Miliband said: 'This is a proud day and an important step forward in the fight for equality in Britain.'

Celebrities also offered their reaction to the decision on social networking sites including Twitter.

Stephen Fry wrote: 'Whoop!!!!!! 400-175!!! Now that's a majority!! A great day in the slow but glorious history of British progress and fairness'

Television presenter Caroline Flack wrote: 'About time too! A day in history #equalmarriage'

While radio DJ Scott Mills wrote: 'It's been passed! #equalmarriage'

During a fractious and at times deeply personal debate, Tory MPs lined up to condemn the policy.

Ministerial aide David Burrowes said he had received death threats about his opposition to the measure and his children had been taunted and told ‘their dad's a bigot’.

Salisbury MP John Glen warned it would cost the Tories votes at the 2015 election while Graham Brady, chairman of the 1922 Committee, said he had ‘serious misgivings’ about assurances from ministers about ensuring that religious freedom will not be compromised.

Former minister Edward Leigh said: ‘We should be in the business of protecting cherished institutions and our cultural heritage otherwise what, I ask, is a Conservative Party for?’

Tory grandee Sir Roger Gale risked controversy when he appeared to liken gay marriage to incest,

‘Marriage is the union between a man and a woman, has been historically, remains so,’ he said.

Home Secretary Theresa May, pictured leaving No. 10, urged Tory MPs to back the plans 'because we are Conservatives'

It had been suggested, he said, that a civil union bill could be created ‘that applies to all people irrespective or their sexuality, or their relationships, and that means brothers and brothers and sisters and sisters and brothers and sisters as well’.

Sir Roger stressed he did not subscribe to the notion, but added he recognised the merit in the argument.

However a number of gay MPs from all parties spoke movingly in favour of the reforms.

His fellow Conservative Margot James (Stourbridge) warned: ‘The modernisation of the Conservative Party is not yet complete.’

Openly gay former Tory minister Nick Herbert said later he was ‘delighted’ by the result of the vote. He said: ‘The Commons has voted by a substantial majority for equal marriage, with support across all the major parties.

'The Bill will now be examined in detail, but we believe today's vote was a momentous step towards the goal of securing the freedom for gay people to marry.'

Culture Secretary Maria Miller was accused of pushing a policy which was an 'irrelevance' which did not feature in the Tory party manifesto.

Opening the debate, Mrs Miller said: 'What marriage offers us all is a lifelong partner to share our journey, a loving, stable relationship to strengthen us and a mutual support throughout our lives.

'I believe that this is something that should be embraced by more couples. The depth of feeling, love and commitment is no different between same-sex couples than opposite-sex couples.

'This Bill enables society to recognise that commitment in the same way too, through marriage. We are doing this very clearly as an important part of the way we can make this country a fairer place to live.'

Five of the most prominent Right-wingers in the Cabinet came out fighting for the policy in a last-minute attempt to rescue Mr Cameron from the worst Tory revolt of his leadership.

Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith decided to back the push for same-sex unions out of loyalty to the Prime Minister.

Justice Secretary Chris Grayling, a standard bearer of the Tory right, argued that the ‘collapse of marriage and families’ has ‘absolutely nothing to do with homosexuality’.

Defence Secretary Philip Hammond is known to be uneasy about the gay marriage plans but was out of the country for tonight's votes

Born-again Christian Carl Hamblin holds banners quoting the Bible as he stands in Parliament Square to protest against gay marriage

And George Osborne, Theresa May and William Hague used an open letter to wavering Tory MPs to declare it 'is the right thing to do at the right time'.

They wrote: 'Marriage has evolved over time. We believe that opening it up to same-sex couples will strengthen, not weaken, the institution.

'As David Cameron has said, we should support gay marriage not in spite of being Conservatives, but because we are Conservatives.

'Attitudes towards gay people have changed. A substantial majority of the public now favour allowing same sex couples to marry, and support has increased rapidly. This is the right thing to do at the right time,' they said in a joint letter to The Daily Telegraph.

Big guns: An open letter by Foreign Secretary William Hague and Chancellor George Osborne, pictured leaving Cabinet today, aimed to win over
wavering Tory MPs to support the gay marriage bill

Labour MP Angela Eagle tied the knot in a civil partnership with Maria Exall in 2008

Labour frontbencher Angela Eagle today revealed that John Prescott was the first senior Labour figure she told about her civil partnership in 1998.

The then-Deputy Prime Minister responded by giving her a hug.

Miss Eagle tied the knot in a civil partnership with Maria Exall in 2008. She spoke out today ahead of the Commons vote on gay marriage, and revealed her decision to come out.

'I wanted to move in with my longstanding girlfriend, now my civil partner, and it just seemed the right time to to do.'

She said the reaction was 'overwhelmingly supportive' both in the Labour party and her constituency in Wallasey, in Merseyside.

'The first person I told was John Prescott and he asked if it was ok to give me a hug, and he said "tell me something I didn't know already, love".

She added: ''The party were very supportive from Tony Blair down. My local party were fantastic.

'My constituents were fine with it. The odd one of two people might say something but overwhelmingly the reaction to it was positive and I do think the public have moved on far beyond some of the places where there has been worry about this.'

She said that most people in Britain supported gay marriage.

'I think it makes our society a much more understanding, kinder, place. I think it's the last piece in the jigsaw to the creation of equal rights for people who are gay, lesbians, and I think it's overwhelmingly going to be supported in the country.'

However, the new Archbishop of
Canterbury the Right Reverend Justin Welby yesterday warned Mr Cameron
that there will be no retreat by the Church of England in its opposition
to same-sex marriages.

Within minutes of his formal
confirmation into the post, Dr Welby reaffirmed his stand on the new
laws to open up marriage to gay and lesbian people.

'We have made our views clear and I’m
very much with the House of Bishops on this,’ said Dr Welby, backing the
Synod body which contains the Church’s bishops. He added: ‘The
Government wants it. We think there are issues around the way it is
going forward.’

Legalising same-sex marriage may lose
the Tories more votes than it will win them, according to a poll. The
ComRes survey for ITV News found that 34 per cent of respondents believe
it makes the Tories less appealing to them as a voter – more than
double the 15 per cent who say it makes the party more appealing.

Last night shadow chancellor Ed Balls admitted he admired the Prime Minister for proposing the law change.

'Yes I do actually,' he told ITV1's The Agenda. 'I think it's brave and he's divided his party in quite a deep way.'

Mr Balls said he was 'really pleased
he's doing it', but added: 'It's not clear why from a Conservative Party
point of view he's chosen to do this - the economy's in a mess, we need
a jobs plan and he's chosen this issue.

'But in 50 years time we'll look back
and say, "did we really have a debate where we said your sexuality will
decide whether you could get married or not?"'